Effects of captopril and enalapril on zinc metabolism in hypertensive patients.
OBJECTIVE
To investigate the effect of chronic captopril and enalapril treatment on zinc metabolism in hypertensive patients by assessing zinc levels in serum, urine and monocytes.


METHODS
Patients with newly diagnosed essential hypertension were randomly divided into two treatment groups: those treated with captopril only (n = 16) and those treated with enalapril only (n = 18). Ten healthy subjects served as controls. Prior to the start of treatment and again 6 months later, zinc was assessed in the serum, in urine collected over 24 hours, and in peripheral blood monocytes.


RESULTS
Significant enhancement of 24-hour urinary zinc excretion (micrograms/24 hour) after 6 months of treatment was observed only in the captopril-treated group (p < 0.01). However, intramonocytic zinc levels decreased significantly in both of the treated groups over the same period (p < 0.01 and P < 0.04 in the captopril- and enalapril-treated groups, respectively).


CONCLUSIONS
Treatment of hypertensive patients with captopril or enalapril may result in zinc deficiency.
Golik
A
A
Department of Internal Medicine A, Assaf Harofeh Medical Center, Zerifin, Israel.
Zaidenstein
R
R
Dishi
V
V
Blatt
A
A
Cohen
N
N
Cotter
G
G
Berman
S
S
Weissgarten
J
J
D000806:Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme Inhibitors / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000959:Antihypertensive Agents / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use; D002216:Captopril / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D004656:Enalapril / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006973:Hypertension / Q000188:drug therapy*; D008297:Male; D009000:Monocytes / Q000378:metabolism*; D011446:Prospective Studies; D015032:Zinc / Q000097:blood / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000652:urine
D000806:Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme Inhibitors; D000959:Antihypertensive Agents; D004656:Enalapril; D002216:Captopril; D015032:Zinc